Monitor having improved swiveling

ABSTRACT

A monitor including a display part to display a picture, a base part to support the display part, and a connection part having a first end connected to the main body, and a second end connected to the base part. The base part includes a lower plate to rest on an installation surface, an upper plate connected to the lower plate, leaving a predetermined space therebetween and formed with a through hole to receive the second end of the connection part, and a rotation plate larger than the through hole in area, provided in the predetermined space. The rotation plate is connected to the second end of the connection part, and rotates together with the display part and the connection part clockwise or counterclockwise.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 2002-16487, filed Mar. 26, 2002, in the Korean Industrial Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a monitor, and more particularly, to a monitor having an improved swiveling structure.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] A monitor collectively refers to display devices for TV sets or computer systems, and includes a CRT (cathode ray tube) monitor, an LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, or other known types.

[0006] In the CRT monitor, electron beams according to the intensity of picture signals strike a monochrome or RGB (red, green, blue) fluorescent material coated on a CRT panel, generating light having different brightnesses and colors. The CRT monitor is widely used because of an economical price and good display quality, but is disadvantageous due to bulkiness and therefore occupies a relatively large space.

[0007] In the LCD monitor, when a predetermined voltage is supplied to a liquid crystal, a molecular arrangement thereof is varied and light is prevented from passing therethrough. The LCD monitor is thin, but is expensive and poor in display quality. Hereinafter, the term monitor will refer to an LCD monitor.

[0008] The conventional monitor includes a base part to be rested on an installation surface, and a connection part connecting the base part and a display part to display a picture. In the base part, there is a rotation plate to rotate the connection part and the display part. The rotation plate protrudes out of the bottom of the base part and rests on the installation surface, thereby swiveling the monitor.

[0009] However, the conventional monitor is unstably supported on the installation surface because the rotation plate protrudes out of the bottom of the base part. Therefore, the monitor is likely to be shaken by a slight external force such as typing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a monitor which is stable on an installation surface and has an improved swiveling structure.

[0011] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

[0012] The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a monitor to rest on an installation surface, including a display part to display a picture; a base part to support the display part; and a connection part having a first end connected to the display part, and a second end connected to the base part, the base part including a lower plate to rest on the installation surface, an upper plate connected to the lower plate to form a space therebetween, and forming a through hole in which the second end of the connection part is partially inserted, and a rotation plate having an area larger than an area of the through hole, provided in the space between the upper and lower plates, connected to the second end of the connection part, and rotating together with the display part and the connection part.

[0013] According to an aspect of the present invention, the monitor further includes a rotation restriction unit to restrict swiveling of the display part against the base part within a predetermined angle.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, the rotation restriction unit includes a rotation restriction projection formed in an inside portion of either the upper plate or a circumference of the rotation plate, to restrict rotation of the display part; and a guide part formed in the other one of the inside portion of the upper plate or the circumference of the rotation plate, having a guide projection to guide and stop the rotation restriction projection.

[0015] According to still another aspect of the present invention, the rotation restriction projection includes a pair of projections provided on the circumference of the rotation plate and spaced from each other.

[0016] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the monitor further includes a combination pin connected to the rotation plate and the connection part, and passing through the lower plate.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, the lower plate is formed with a recess part thereon to prevent the combination pin from protruding toward and being contacted with the installation surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a monitor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the monitor of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the monitor of FIG. 2;

[0022]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the monitor of FIG. 3 illustrating the combination pin; and

[0023]FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate swiveling of the monitor of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, a monitor according to the present invention includes a display part 10 to display a picture, a base part 30 to support the display part 10, a connection part 20 having a first end connected to the display part 10 and a second end 20 a connected to the base part 30 so as to support the display part 10 above the base part 30.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, the base part 30 includes a lower plate 32 to be rested on an installation surface such as a desk, a table, etc., an upper plate 34 connected to the lower part 32, leaving a predetermined space therebetween, and a rotation plate 36 provided in the predetermined space.

[0027] The lower plate 32 is a flat plate, and is mounted with a buffering member 33 to elastically support the display part 10 on the installation surface. Furthermore, the lower plate 32 is formed with a recess part 32 a at the center thereof.

[0028] The recess part 32 a prevents a combination pin 38 (to be described later) from protruding toward and being contacted with the installation surface. If the combination pin 38 protrudes toward and is contacted with the installation surface, the monitor cannot be stably supported on the installation surface. Therefore, the recess part 32 a covers the combination pin 38 placed on the bottom of the lower plate 32, thereby allowing the lower plate 32 to be stably supported on the installation surface. The combination pin 38 may be partially formed with a thread. Thus, the second end 20 a of the connection part 20 is formed with a screw hole 21 to which the combination pin 38 is screw-coupled, whereas the rotation plate 36 and the recess part 32 a are each formed with through holes 36 a and 32 b through which the combination pin 38 is passed.

[0029] On the upper plate 34 is provided a through hole 34 a. Thus, the second end 20 a of the connection part 20 is partially inserted into the through hole 34 a, and is connected to the rotation plate 36 by the combination pin 38. Because a portion of the rotation plate 36 is larger than the through hole 34 a, the rotation plate 36 prevents the connection part 20 from being detached from the through hole 34 a when the rotation plate 36 is connected to the second end 20 a. Furthermore, the rotation plate 36 is rotated together with the display part 10 and the connection part 20.

[0030] A rotating restriction unit restricts swiveling of the display part 10 against the base part 30 within a predetermined angle. Thus, the display part 10 cannot be swiveled in an unlimited manner. The rotating restriction unit includes first and second rotation restriction projections 40 a and 40 b, which are provided on the circumference of the rotation plate 36 and are spaced from each other at a predetermined arc, and a guide part 41, which is formed inside the upper plate 34, having a projection 42. The guide part 41 guides the rotation restriction projections 40 a and 40 b.

[0031] The second end 20 a is partially inserted into the through hole 34 a of the upper plate 34, and is connected to the rotation plate 36 with the combination pin 38, putting the recess part 32 a of the lower plate 32 between the rotation plate 36 and the combination pin 38.

[0032] Thus, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the display part 10 is swiveled clockwise, the rotation plate 36 is rotated together with the display part 10, being guided by the guide part 41. At this time, the display part 10 can be swiveled until the first rotation restriction projection 40 a, formed in the rotation plate 36, is stopped by the projection 42, formed in the guide part 41, thereby restricting clockwise swiveling of the display part 10 within a predetermined arc.

[0033] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the display part 10 is swiveled counterclockwise, the rotation plate 36 is rotated together with the display part 10, being guided by the guide part 41. At this time, the display part 10 can be swiveled until the second rotation restriction projection 40 b, formed in the rotation plate 36, is stopped by the projection 42, formed in the guide part 41, thereby restricting counterclockwise swiveling of the display part 10 within a predetermined angle.

[0034] As described above, the base part 30 is stably supported on the installation surface because the rotation plate 36 is provided in the predetermined space between the upper and lower plates 34 and 32 and connected to the second end 20 a of the connection part 20. Furthermore, swiveling of the display part 10 is restricted within the predetermined angle because of the first and second rotation restriction projections 40 a and 40 b and the guide part 41 having the projection 42.

[0035] In the foregoing embodiment, the first and second rotation restriction projections 40 a and 40 b are formed in the rotation plate 36, and the guide part 41 is formed in the upper plate 34. However, the first and second rotation restriction projections may be formed in the upper plate 34, and the guide part 41 may be formed in the rotation plate 36.

[0036] As described above, the present invention provides a monitor which is stable on an installation surface and has an improved swiveling structure.

[0037] Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A monitor to rest on an installation surface, comprising: a display part to display a picture; a base part to support the display part; and a connection part having a first end connected to the display part, and a second end connected to the base part, the base part comprising: a lower plate to rest on the installation surface, an upper plate connected to the lower plate to form a space therebetween, and forming a through hole in which the second end of the connection part is partially inserted, and a rotation plate having an area larger than an area of the through hole, provided in the space between the upper and lower plates, connected to the second end of the connection part, and rotating together with the display part and the connection part.
 2. The monitor according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation restriction unit to restrict the rotation of the display part within a predetermined angle.
 3. The monitor according to claim 2, wherein the rotation restriction unit comprises: a rotation restriction projection formed in an inside portion of the upper plate or a circumference of the rotation plate, to restrict the rotation of the display part; and a guide part formed in the other one of the inside portion of the upper plate or the circumference of the rotation plate, having a guide projection to guide and stop the rotation restriction projection.
 4. The monitor according to claim 3, wherein the rotation restriction projection comprises a pair of projections provided on the circumference of the rotation plate and spaced from each other.
 5. The monitor according to claim 1, further comprising a combination pin connected to the rotation plate and the connection part, and passing through the lower plate.
 6. The monitor according to claim 5, wherein the lower plate is formed with a recess part thereon to prevent the combination pin from being contacted with the installation surface.
 7. A monitor to rest on an installation surface, comprising: a display to display an image; a base to rotatably support the display, comprising a rotation plate to rotate with the display, the rotation plate not contacting the installation surface; and a connecter to connect the display and the base.
 8. The monitor according to claim 7, wherein the base further comprises: a lower plate to rest on the installation surface; and an upper plate contacting the lower plate and forming a space therebetween, wherein the rotation plate is inserted into the space formed between the upper and lower plates.
 9. The monitor according to claim 8, wherein the upper plate forms a through hole therein, and the connector comprises: a first end connected to the display; and a second end connected to the rotation plate and inserted into the through hole.
 10. The monitor according to claim 9, wherein an area of the rotation plate is greater than an area of the through hole.
 11. The monitor according to claim 8, wherein the lower plate comprises a buffer member to elastically support the display on the installation surface.
 12. The monitor according to claim 8, further comprising a pin connected to the rotation plate and the connector, and passing through the lower plate without contacting the installation surface.
 13. The monitor according to claim 12, wherein the lower plate is formed with a recess to receive the pin and thereby prevent the pin from contacting the installation surface.
 14. A monitor to rest on an installation surface, comprising: a display to display an image; a base to rotatably support the display; and a connecter to connect the display and the base, the display being stably supported by the base. 